So fun to be a part of the Martha Stewart Spring Wedding To Do's article today! Read all the tips here on Martha Stewart Weddings!
I had so much fun writing about my business for The Estate Blog and being asked to contribute as one of their preferred creative partners. I got to answer some fun questions for them about me, my business and my love of the City of Chicago! Here are some excerpts below of that article. You can read the full article on The Estate Blog.
Get out the heart sweater and chill the champagne, it is Valentine's Weekend!! A chilly weekend is predicted in Chicago and here are my top picks for having a wonderful Valentine's weekend with your loved one!
In September, I was honored to be asked to speak by Sarah and Andrea from Cherry Berry Events at Camp Wedding at the Camp Wandewega, located in Wisconsin. This was their inaugural wedding retreat and I was looking forward to meeting some new friends in the wedding industry. I attend a couple of event conferences a year and I was intrigued by the concept of Camp Wedding, with wedding professionals being in a camp environment.
Want to learn about the event industry from one of the best wedding planners in Chicago? Ali Phillips of Engaging Events is looking for a great intern for the winter season. Intern should be available one business day a week and available on some weekends. Please send resume, 2 references and cover letter to info@engagingeventsbyali.com.
One of my favorite parts of the wedding day is the time that the bride spends getting ready at her home or in the hotel suite with her bridesmaids, Mom and friends. It is a fun time to bond and relax before the busy wedding day starts. Often times we will have hair and makeup artists come on-site to also make sure everyone looks gorgeous on the wedding day.
I love talking to the press and love when they call upon me for my expertise! Tammy Chase who writes for the Chicago Sun Times called me about three weeks ago to talk about my experience with brides who are a little older than the average bride which is reported to be 26. Turns out we had just helped Tim and Amy plan their fabulous wedding and they are both over 40. You can read the great article online but also read my tips for older brides who are getting married online.
Ali, When should I be selecting and purchasing my wedding shoes? Can you give me any tips? (From Ashley)
That is a great question. It is a good idea to have selected your wedding shoes prior to your first fitting of your wedding dress which will typically happen two to three months before your wedding. Start looking for your wedding shoes about four to six months in advance of your wedding.
Staggered USA has arrived to the United States and wow do they have some great advice for Grooms. This is something all grooms should for sure add to their blog roll or google reader. Staggered USA brings grooms everything they need to know from what your best man's duties should be to tips for your wedding night speech.
This week has been a hard week for me. I have seen people I love and care deeply about have losses in their family. Today I am reminded to stop and breathe and take time to live every day to the fullest. Life, and often in wedding planning, we can get so wrapped up in the little details. Those details are so important to creating the beauty of the day, but also, please take a little time to step away from the details every now and then and look at the overall picture of the day you are creating together as a couple. The wedding is about sharing your love with your family and friends and celebrating together. And your love and friends and family are what brings joy and happiness to life.
A question I get asked a lot as a wedding consultant is what should the order of the processional be? It is a great idea to think about this in advance of your wedding rehearsal. While rehearsals are for that, rehearsing, it is important to have a plan in place before you arrive to your rehearsal. I go thru a worksheet with my clients so I know who is paired up with who so I know the order the bride and groom want when we are practicing.
As a wedding planner in Chicago, I get asked many questions by my clients. This was one I received last week that I waned to share with all the readers on my blog. "What is the correct order of a receiving line?" Receiving lines are a great way for you and your new spouse, your parents and your new parents to greet and welcome their guests following the ceremony or during the cocktail hour.
Last night I spoke at Purdue University to the Purdue Event Planning Society. (PEPS) Purdue has one of the top Hospitality and Tourism Managementprograms in the country. The "PEPS" organization is headed up by Morgan White, who was my intern this summer. She did an amazing job and had the room packed with about 50 students. I was able to share some fun weddings I have done recently but also give the attendees some tips on building their resume, organizations to become members of and some insight into what being a wedding planner is like day to day.
